Ahhh, an antique, cool!
If you were in their car you probably wouldn’t have hit it with your cane. Oh… wait, maybe you meant if they got out of their car to check for damage… well yes, you are at risk of assault unless you’re an proficient at Cane Fighting* like Bat Masterson, but not necessarily liable for damages if you had a justifiable reason to warn the driver by hitting their car with your cane.
*Cane Fighting was a fictional device used on the TV show.
what the fuck are you posting about? Are you trying to imply that most cars are no longer made of sheet metal? if so, you are wrong.
I often say my Ford Escape is like the Lunar landing module. Mostly aluminum foil, plastic and lots of guts.
Moderating: Please avoid just posting links. Either give a small blurb why the link is relevant or at very least ensure the preview is showing something relevant.
I’ll try to fix the preview.
Sorry! Will improve.
Again. The premise is they are already assaulting me with a deadly weapon, the car. Getting them out of that weapon is better for me than them continuing to use it against me.
Back in my radio days we had a station director who lost a big toe in a mowing accident. Being the sort of sensitive souls who worked in radio, we dedicated this song to him.
Bringing a stick to a car fight is not wise.
I could collect snapshots, license plate numbers and eyewitness statements, hand them over to the police…and in the history of these United States of America has this ever accomplished anything?
Why would you do that? You asked if hitting a car with your cane was justified as self-defense. You haven’t been accused of anything so what do you expect the police to do with all the information you give them?
I wasn’t saying hit the car then do all that. I was saying doing all that instead.
There seems to be a general lack of appreciation that a pedestrian (or cyclist) in this situation is being assaulted with a deadly weapon, (an assault that happens frequently and that usually not only is unreported and without consequence to the criminal, but one that victims are advised is best ignored and to nothing more than get away from the assailant and to comply with their demand.)
I commute by bicycle. I absolutely appreciate that we’re talking about assault with a deadly weapon, here. I don’t think that part is in dispute. And I’d love to see the police take action about it.
But what does any of that have to do with this thread?
This is what you should always do when assaulted with a deadly weapon.
It has to do with @TriPolar’s lack of comprehension of what @Czarcasm was talking about. And the underlying frustration that wants to see the assailants punished and having knowledge that unless we as victims are seriously harmed (and maybe even we are) there will no interest by any police in doing so. If police get involved it will be handled as a minor traffic, not as the assault it is. Unpunished and without any consequences the assailants continue to victimize other pedestrians and cyclists in the future.
That’s at least a difference, @Johnny_Bravo , with an assault with a gun - police at least will encourage that being reported and if you could clearly identify who it was would being willing to arrest and charge them. Especially if you had a witness.
I had a man who did IT for my firm. His right arm ended at his elbow. Yep, lawnmower.
Lawnmowers, and especially 30+ years ago designs, are not much less dangerous than chain saws, but were / are treated far more cavalierly.
Something to consider.
Not that any conventional footware provides meaningful protection from powered blades. They’ll eat leather boots, sneakers, crocs, or bare flesh w substantially equal outcomes.
The barefoot is more objects being thrown back after running a stick or such. Some are thrill seekers!
This is arguable, the law at least will say you have the right to self defense if you can’t safely extricate yourself from the situation. And that is definitely the case in the OP, someone reliant on a cane is not going to be able to get out of the road before the car runs them over.
For that reason whether it’s a “stand your ground” state doesn’t really matter.